LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Fan or hate mail is typical following a popular television news segment, but one viewer has Las Vegas police’s attention after mailing a bloodied pig’s head and a letter in response to an AI story.
Blake Owens, CEO of Agrippa, said he was not expecting someone to mail him a dead animal on July 29, but the letter attached helped him form a theory. The bloody pig’s head appeared to be prompted by a story in June by affiliate KLAS about his use of AI for a real estate deal.
“Perhaps this person watched too much of The Godfather,” Owens said. “Needless to say, I still take it very seriously, but don’t feel like I’m being truly threatened. It was a message.”
The box appeared to have been mailed in by someone who is possibly worried about losing their job to artificial intelligence, according to Owens. The sender wrote a letter to Owens saying, in part, “’AI’ is not going to replace brokers. Clearly, you don’t understand real estate was built by developer or investors.”
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Blake Owens, CEO of Agrippa, said he was not expecting someone to mail him a dead animal on Friday, but the letter attached helped him form a theory. The bloody pig’s head appeared to be prompted by an 8 News Now interview filmed in June about his use of AI for a real estate deal. (Blake Owens) -
Blake Owens, CEO of Agrippa, said he was not expecting someone to mail him a dead animal on Friday, but the letter attached helped him form a theory. The bloody pig’s head appeared to be prompted by an 8 News Now interview filmed in June about his use of AI for a real estate deal. (Blake Owens)
Owens said his interest is in helping people—like those in commercial real estate—embrace tools like AI, not use it to replace humans. He cited a Winston Churchill quote in support of his point.
“[Churchill] said to be perfect is to change often,” Owens said. “I think a lot of people are afraid of change and what’s coming with AI, because it really is a tsunami of change that people are trying to resist. But the more you embrace it, the better you’ll do, the more skills that you’ll accumulate more value you’ll bring to the table.”
The largest employer in the State of Nevada, MGM Resorts, has also embraced AI as a tool, according to its newest quarterly report. The company announced it had introduced 70 to 80 new AI programs for departments, including front desk operations.
The Otonomous Hotel, which opened on July 1, has also advertised its use of AI-powered service in Las Vegas. The property hosted foreign dignitaries from El Salvador last month.
“You look at Agrippa, TensorWave, look at Otonomous Hotel, everyone is trying to bring AI to the forefront, and it sheds some light on how great this city is and what we can do with the talent we have here,” Owens said. “May ruffle some feathers in the process, but in the long run, I think that it’s the best thing to do.”
As for the person who sent the pig’s head, Owens said there is no ill will toward someone who appears to be struggling.
“I don’t want to punch down on this person; they may be in a tough spot in life,” he said. “I do see this as an opportunity to show people you don’t become a better person by making another man a lesser person.”
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the bloody delivery sent to Owens, according to documents, the author of the letter attached signed with only the initial “M.”
